Johnson, the great- nephew of blues legend Muddy Waters and grandson of gospel singer Texcellar Fields, is building upon his family legacy with his own original songs and performances.

https://keithjohnsonenterprise.com/

Everyone knew Beverly Davis as a child knew that she was destined to do something great. Beverly Davis is a native of Memphis, TN. Beverly was an outstanding student in high school in academics and as an athlete. As a top student in her senior year, she won a competition for outstanding academic student and was selected to represent her high school doing a competition at the University of Memphis with college students in Advance Typing. Due to her outstanding achievements in her senior year, Beverly was guaranteed employment with the Fire Department in the interrogation division immediately upon her graduation. At the age 16, Beverly performed her first debut at her church when asked by the Pastor’s wife (the first lady) to sing, “Just One Day in Paradise”. Beverly received a standing ovation. As a result of this performance, Beverly realized that singing was something that she wanted to pursue as a profession. Beverly start singing at a young age traveling with her mother. Her mother song with several gospel groups, the church choir, and the 100 voices of Memphis, TN. Beverly has now recorded and performed on many professional platforms such as showcases, theater, studio recordings, film, radio, television, festivals and with world known artists. Beverly’s vocal range is phenomenal, and she sings various styles of music such as: blues, hill country blues, jazz, gospel and R & B blues. Beverly is a vocalist, composer, producer and plays guitar and lite on keys.

http://beverlydavisaccounting.com/artists/beverly-davis/

Frank Rimmer earned the money for his first guitar at age 11 years old by going to the Cotton Fields, and has been performing since age 14. . He still has the Guitar named Stella to this day. He founded his own Band Called "Exception To The Rule another band called Super Soul Sonic. Which consisted of Big Pete, {City Council} - Friends of Glen Harris. Some of their Big Influences were Earth-Wind & Fire; Motown; Isley Brothers. Frank has played with Magic Slim, and his father, Magic slim, Sr.

https://www.facebook.com/guitarrimmer

Lucious Spiller was born in St.Louis, MO. At an early age, he discovered that God had blessed him with a special gift. His dad gave him a guitar when he was four. Immediately he was a natural, he started out playing in church. Lucious has performed with countless well known musicians to include Bo Diddly, Larry “Totsy” Davis, Albert King, Eddie Clearwater, Robert Cray. He has been opening act for such artists as the legendary Ritchie Havens’ Bobby “Blue” Bland and the infamous Tower of Power, Zach Brown, and many others. His music is an energized mix of new blues and old school injected with a contemporary edge. His songs are brought to vivid life by his unlimited energy.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueSpiller/

"THE LEGACY OF T- MODEL FORD AND THE BLUES!" Stud Ford is the grandson of Blues Legend T- Model Ford.

https://www.facebook.com/og.gentle.56

In the world of Mississippi blues and folk art, you won't find much better than Mr. James "Super Chikan" Johnson. He is the man. His "live" shows are legendary for their originality and energy. Whether he's playing his signature B.C. Rich guitar or one of his homemade gas can "Chikan-tars," you'll know that good times have entered the building after the first three notes. Winner of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the arts, Chikan recently released his 4th and perhaps best CD, "Chikan Supe." He's been all over the world, but this weekend he's back in town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqi_j5Glmtc

The older sister of recording artist Paul "Wine" Jones, Miss Australia "Honey Bee" Jones is Mississippi's only 80-year-old guitar-playing, blues-singing woman currently playing the festival circuit. She learned guitar from her father, taught her brother to play, moved north for a career as a crane operator at a steel plant, before finally moving back to Mississippi to play blues in her retirement.

https://thedeltareview.com/black-history/australia-jones-honeybee-neal-a-powerful-new-female-voice-in-the-mississippi-blues/

One of the most authentic bluesmen alive—Duck Hill, Mississippi's legendary blues recording artist Little Willie Farmer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Willie_Farmer

One of Mississippi's hidden treasures: a contemporary hill country bluesman, lifelong resident of Pontotoc, who has created his own distinctive version of the harp-blowing, guitar-grooving one-man band. Although he's long past the dues-paying stage, Bean has played with some of the most important bluesmen to come out of Mississippi in the past two decades.

http://www.hillcountryharmonica.com/terry_bean.html

One of the most culturally important bluesmen on earth today, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes is both a Grammy-nominated musician and a legendary juke joint owner. Born in 1947, his family opened the Blues Front Cafe in 1948. He was also featured on a U.S. Postal stamp representing Mississippi in 2017. Duck has been playing JJF for years, and we love him! You will, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_%22Duck%22_Holmes

A conversation on how African traditions shaped the Blues, featuring the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, Cotton Patch Soul Blues artists and scholars of West and Central African music.

Ricky L. “Brotha Ric” Patton, Sr. was born in Swancott, AL. and raised in Triana, AL. He is the grandson of the bluesman and whiskey man, “Paper Thomas Patton“. As a youngster Ric grew up around his Uncle Johnnie Rice. Johnnie was a hobo,ex-con and harmonica player who loved drinking bootleg whiskey. Uncle Johnnie would often stick his harmonica soaked in whiskey in Lil Ric’s mouth causing it to burn and Ric would find himself blowing and drawing (aka blowing and sucking) on the harmonica. This was the beginning of Ric’s life as a guitar and harmonica player.

https://alabamabluesman.com/biography

Delta Community Speaks on the Blues (Part 1)

https://www.clarksdalescrossroads.com/

Terry "Big T" Williams came up under "Mr. Johnnie" Billington's watch before graduating to "Big Jack" Johnson's band, The Jelly Roll Kings, The Stone Gas Band and his own Big T & the Family band. A favorite of big clubs and juke joints alike, Big T is a man to watch on guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhNmLuk-AMU

Delta Community Speaks on the Blues (Part 2)

https://www.clarksdalescrossroads.com/

Austin Walkin' Cane is not your typical bluesman-he's a storytelling troubadour with a guitar in one hand and a slide in the other, roaming the backroads of the blues with a style that's as gritty as it is soulful. Austin's music is steeped in the traditions of Delta blues, but it's his life experiences that really give his sound its unique edge. Whether he's playing a resonator guitar that echoes the ghosts of blues legends or belting out lyrics that cut straight to the bone, Austin brings an authenticity to his performances that can only come from living the blues.

http://www.walkincane.com

Singer-songwriter, blues diva and leader of the band!

https://www.facebook.com/soulhoneymusic/

Roosevelt "Piano Redd" Harper was born in 1940 in Clarksdale, he started playing piano in the mid-1950s. Through the decades, he's played piano and keyboard behind a who's who of local musicians, and he is a regular at Juke Joint Festival.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevelikens/8659521710/

BE is a multi instrumentalist from Miami Florida playing all styles of music from blues, soul, rock, jazz and more. For the past 3 years he has been traveling the country as a independent musician mainly spending his time in clarksdale learning the roots of the blues and backing up the local blues legends like Anthony “big a” Sherrod, Lala Craig, Lucious spiller, Terry “big t” Williams, Sean bad apple, Mississippi Marshal and more. This year at JJF he performs everything he has learned through the years by playing his favorite blues songs and some originals.

https://linktr.ee/shutupbe

Jay Kirgis He began playing harmonica at the age of 12. At 24, he began playing guitar and learning by listening to the music of Muddy Waters, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Jimmy Reed, etc. After moving to Mississippi in 1995, he started sharing stages with blues greats like R.L. Burnside, Sam Carr, Frank Frost and T-Model Ford.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063928724215&locale=et_EE

Sadie Lamp is a mesmerizing duo act performing in the alternative jazz styles of fusing blues with pop genres , while keeping the standards interestingly alive. Their full slate touring ended them in Clarksdale, Mississippi performing to full house scheduled shows. In 2018 they took center stage at world famous Juke Joint Festival with their debut CD release party , then a show for Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival sponsored by the Clarksdale Blues Museum performing with the likes of the slide guitar master “Watermelon Slim," and then an astonishing show same year for the Deep Blues Festival. Currently Sadie Lamp is performing weekly scheduled shows as seen on CATHEAD’S MUSIC CALENDAR at cathead.biz , performing shows at Clarksdale's REDS LOUNGE on Thursdays at 5 pm with their new Happy Hour Blues Show and on Sundays weekly at The Third Street Bistro at 12:30pm. Sadie Lamp performs this show weekly as a black tie event with smooth and easy listening jazz while dining the bistros famous entree.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQnfQTQPg-ykXgaeURucvGw

The Mississippi Delta's Southern Soul Band plays the blues, soul and R&B audiences love.

Steve Kolbus was influenced by the styles Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bob Stroger, and Hubert Sumlin. Little Arthur Duncan, a great Chicago harpist, taught him to sing play and write music. His Clarksdale Blues Revue is a high energy Rockin Blues band that enjoys making people happy. Their live show is a high energy interactive show with lots of antics!

https://www.reverbnation.com/stevekolbusandtheclarksdalebluesrevue

The Parchman Community & Culture Foundation is a Mississippi-based organization focused on preserving the history and supporting the rehabilitation of inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (aka Parchman Farm). It supports programs like the historic Parchman Prison Band.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579369228489

Born in Sardis, Mississippi, Hal Reed has held residency in the Quad Cities/Iowa for over 30 years. During that time, he has performed countless blues shows throughout the state and volunteered to teach students across Iowa about the history of Blues music. His current 4-piece band includes three teenagers who are working to keep the music alive!

https://cibs.org/events-programs/iowa-blues-hall-of-fame/hal-reed/

The purpose of the Delta Blues Museum's Arts and Education Program is to continue the great musical tradition born in the Mississippi Delta: the Delta blues. The Arts and Education program teaches students to play music and keeps the history of the Delta blues alive. Students are taught to play the blues on the instrument or instruments of their choice.

https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/education.aspx

He's been called "The Torchbearer of the Clarksdale Sound" with good reason. No other blues guitarist alive played with so many of the late-greats of the infamous Clarksdale blues scene. Anthony "Big A" Sherrod played in bands with Big Jack Johnson, Super Chikan, Big George Brock, Bilbo Walker, Wesley "Junebug" Jefferson, Michael "Dr. Mike" James, Josh "Razorblade" Stewart, Mr. Johnnie Billington and others (plus sat in with Buddy Guy's 1990s Clarksdale appearance). Today, he leads his own deeply-juke-joint blues trio: Big A & the Allstars, with Heather Crosse and Lee Williams. (PHOTO BY JEFF KONKEL.)

https://anthonybigasherrod.bandcamp.com/album/right-on-time

Ol’ Skool Revue (DMI 361) has an extensive repertoire that includes hits from the Blues, R&B, Soul, and Funk genres. Ol’ Skool Revue has performed at Hal & Mal’s (Jackson), Douglas Corner Cafe (Nashville), The International Blues Challenge (Memphis) and The Chicago Blues Festival.

https://www.deltastate.edu/business-aviation/delta-music-institute/bands

DeltaRox is a classic rock band made up of students from the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University. Their specialty includes rock hits from the 1970s and ‘80s. Band leader and instructor, Barry Bays, notes, “this DMI ensemble is working hard to present a wide range of songs that have grown out of various styles of roots music to become American classics.” elta State University Entertainment Industry Studies program is the home of three commercial music bands, each of which performs a diverse repertoire of music from the genres of blues, soul, funk, and rock. These bands are available for bookings at festivals, conferences, schools, and private events. The high energy performance of these bands and their dedication to the original recordings is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.

https://www.deltastate.edu/business-aviation/delta-music-institute/bands/

B4Y2K (DMI 363) performs hits from the 1990s and early 2000s. The band has performed at DSU Pig Pickin’, DSU Homecoming, Grammy Museum Mississippi, and Octoberfest.

https://www.deltastate.edu/business-aviation/delta-music-institute/bands/

RL SUPERBAD (AKA: Robin Lane ) is a Primitive, Experimental Mississippi Blues Man, based from the North Missisippi Hill Country Blues genre with a mixture of Delta, Chicago, Rock, String Band....which equals Alien KonTraFusion. He is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, song writer/story teller, One Man Band and instrument builder (Low N Slow Creations). Born early 60s August 2 in Topeka, KS. With no musical background from family or friends, RL didn't begin playing until 2009, a year after coming to Clarksdale, MS for a weekend in early 2008. There he heard and met Robert "Wolfman" Belfour who introduced him to North Mississippi Hill Country Blues, which changed his life forever. That same night he met Terry Harmonica Bean and Sean "Bad" Apple, both of whom frequently played in Clarksdale juke joints. RL worked with his good friend Tater on the latter's CD titled "SUPERBAD", which was released 11/20/10. Unfortunately, Tater had passed at 63 years old on 9/10/10. To get him a Sidewalk Plaque, RL raised funds by hosting Tater's Memorial Birthday Bash at Club 2000, as well as Jams at Cat Head, Juke Joint Festival and other downtown venues. In 2011 RL played his first JJF and since has played at Sunflower Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Fest, Deep Blues Fest, Memphis in May, KnobFest, Huntsville Cigar Box Guitar Fest, Clarksdale Cigar Box Guitar Fest, Nashville Cigar Box Guitar Festival , Ozark Cigar Box Guitar Festival, Buddy Guy's in Chicago, and all over the streets of Clarksdale. Having shared the stage with Robert Belfour, T Model Ford, Sean Apple and Big Boy Martin Grant, Mr. Tater, Liz Mandeville, Bill Abel, Maurice Vaughan, John Long, Reverend Robert, SpoonMan, Ray Cashman, Watermelon Slim, Deak Harp, Rhode Island Red, Reverend KM Williams and various others, RL is currently playing with Mason Stevens (AKA Mason JARrr Stevens) as a duo.

https://artistecard.com/RLSUPERBADANDKonTraFusion

Shy Perry’s background Brand New Day reached #30 on the “Most Played Album Top 40”- Independent Blues Broadcaster's Chart in the UK Toured in the USA, Brazil, Italy, France, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia Performed at numerous festivals and clubs across the USA

https://sharoperrysp.com/

Earl “Guitar” Williams is a self made blues man. He must have known he would become a blues guitarist, because at the age of seven, he made his own guitar by using a cigar box, broomstick, and fishing court. Earl is known for the electrifying sounds of his electric guitar, cigar box, guitar, and harmonica. He enjoys, performing with what he calls his one man band. He plays the cigar box and drums with a Cajon. While performing, Earl’s infectious smile shows how much he enjoys music and the great vibes he receives from his audience.

http://Facebook

A true blue legend of Chicago blues—who was born in Mississippi—John Primer has played with everyone who's anyone in the blues and taken home multiple awards. Don't miss his very special performances at Clarksdale's Juke Joint Festival! Also, be sure to buy his brand-new CD, "Grown in Mississippi."

https://www.johnprimerblues.com

Clarksdale blues musician Otis “TCB” Taylor performs — policeman by day, bluesman by night!

https://www.facebook.com/otis.taylor.102/

Jay Kirgis He began playing harmonica at the age of 12. At 24, he began playing guitar and learning by listening to the music of Muddy Waters, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Jimmy Reed, etc. After moving to Mississippi in 1995, he started sharing stages with blues greats like R.L. Burnside, Sam Carr, Frank Frost and T-Model Ford.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063928724215&locale=et_EE

Ray Cashman is a Mississippi singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose gritty, blues-driven sound has carried him across stages throughout the United States and Europe. For over 20 years, he has toured USA and Europe annually, earning a loyal following with his powerful voice, raw guitar style, and storytelling through song. Performing mostly original material, Cashman’s music blends traditional blues roots with a modern edge, creating songs that are both timeless and deeply personal. His catalog includes several acclaimed albums, and his work has been featured in television and motion pictures, further cementing his reputation as an authentic voice in American roots music.

http://www.raycashman.net

I was born & raised in the South of France and at an early age I knew that I wanted to be in America fullfilling my dreams of being a professional musician. I made the big leap in the spring of 2001 and moved to Hollywood, CA with nothing but a guitar, a change of clothes and $200 in my pocket. Call it luck or fate but 3 weeks into my stay in the City of Angels I ran into Shooter Jennings and promptly joined his band Stargunn. The first two years in California saw my dreams coming true by meeting and playing with some of my childhood heroes (Waylon Jennings, Slash, Tom Morello and James Hetfield to name a few…) Since my early American beginnings, I’ve played guitar for the likes of Stoney LaRue, Billy Joe Shaver and Jack Ingram as band leader! In the past few years, I’ve expended my craft to singing, writing, recording & performing my own music both as Frenchie’s Blues Destroyers and more recently as Guitar Frenchie. To pursue my career as a solo artist, I’ve moved full time to Clarksdale, MS arguably the home of the Blues to continue pushing my boundaries, recognizing and respecting the tradition of the birthplace of America’s music!

https://www.facebook.com/guitarfrenchie/

The Best Brothers

https://www.facebook.com/TheBestBrothersBluesBand

Shannon Boshears from Little Rock, Arkansas...

https://www.facebook.com/shannonboshearsband

Ricky L. “Brotha Ric” Patton, Sr. was born in Swancott, AL. and raised in Triana, AL. He is the grandson of the bluesman and whiskey man, “Paper Thomas Patton“. As a youngster Ric grew up around his Uncle Johnnie Rice. Johnnie was a hobo,ex-con and harmonica player who loved drinking bootleg whiskey. Uncle Johnnie would often stick his harmonica soaked in whiskey in Lil Ric’s mouth causing it to burn and Ric would find himself blowing and drawing (aka blowing and sucking) on the harmonica. This was the beginning of Ric’s life as a guitar and harmonica player.

https://alabamabluesman.com/biography

https://otiswalkerband.com/

Grenada, MS-based, Grammy-winning bassist, producer, and vocalist known for blending soul, funk, and gospel with Mississippi Delta blues. He frequently performs in Clarksdale, notably at Red's Lounge with his band, GTown Sound, and in collaboration with artists like Edna Nicole.

https://www.instagram.com/revvslim/?hl=en

I was born & raised in the South of France and at an early age I knew that I wanted to be in America fullfilling my dreams of being a professional musician. I made the big leap in the spring of 2001 and moved to Hollywood, CA with nothing but a guitar, a change of clothes and $200 in my pocket. Call it luck or fate but 3 weeks into my stay in the City of Angels I ran into Shooter Jennings and promptly joined his band Stargunn. The first two years in California saw my dreams coming true by meeting and playing with some of my childhood heroes (Waylon Jennings, Slash, Tom Morello and James Hetfield to name a few…) Since my early American beginnings, I’ve played guitar for the likes of Stoney LaRue, Billy Joe Shaver and Jack Ingram as band leader! In the past few years, I’ve expended my craft to singing, writing, recording & performing my own music both as Frenchie’s Blues Destroyers and more recently as Guitar Frenchie. To pursue my career as a solo artist, I’ve moved full time to Clarksdale, MS arguably the home of the Blues to continue pushing my boundaries, recognizing and respecting the tradition of the birthplace of America’s music!

https://www.facebook.com/guitarfrenchie/

Born and raised in Clarksdale, MS. Cricket began playing piano at age five and developed into a skilled blues pianist and singer. She has recorded and performed with blues legends such as Sam Carr, Robert "Bilbo" Walker, and Chicago's Dave Riley. Her performance history includes appearances at notable venues like Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero, Bluesberry, Hambones Art gallery, Red's, B. B. King's Club Ebony in Indianola, MS, The Hostil, Oxford Blues Festival, Big Steam Blues Festival Hot Springs, AR., the King Biscuit Festival, Helena, AR., Sunflower Blues Festival, and many more. She performed at Clarkdale's Juke Joint Festival, April, 2025, both daytime and evening slots and had a special guest appearance on "Rock on Radio, calling in live from Clarksdale to share her music and experiences.

Reverend Robert is known for his genuine conviction and honest delivery. His passion for the blues led him to the prewar blues style of Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and other delta blues giants. Having immersed himself in their recordings, Reverend Robert emerged with an authentic feeling for the blues that is matched by his easy-going and artistic personality. Reverend Robert’s tasteful slide guitar playing garnered the attention of the National Slide Guitar Festival in North Carolina where he took first place in their competition in 2004. He has entertained audiences throughout the United States, Canada, the U.K., Europe, and India. In the past two decades he has developed his one-man blues show to incorporate the influences of jazz, ragtime, and swing, as well as Caribbean, Hawaiian, African and Indian music. The perfect combination of tradition and creative innovation, the Reverend’s music is at home on festival stages or in the street, in clubs or in the backyard. Its dance music played with a stomping beat and irresistible groove.

https://www.revrobert.com/

Louisiana born Heater Crosse began singing as a child and later picked up the bass guitar. She learned to love the blues from Detroit/Arkansas Bluesman, St. Thomas Jenkins while living in Hot Springs, Arkansas then furthered her talent in Mississippi playing with Super Chikan & The Fighting Cocks, Stan Street and the Hambone Band, and Big T & The Family. Her robust style of blues and soul music is buttressed by the dynamic drumming of Lee Williams and cutting guitar of Walt Busby.

http://www.heathercrosse.com

Stan Steet and friends play regularly at Hambone Gallery, 111 E. Second Street.

https://stanstreet.com/hambone-festival/

Ryan Lee Crosby (12 string + vocal), Grant Smith (calabash) and Jay Scheffler (harmonica). Ryan Lee Crosby lives in Rhode Island, but his musical heart is in Mississippi. He has released numerous albums, toured internationally and is a devoted practitioner of the Bentonia Blues tradition. Smithsonian Magazine called him "a young torchbearer" of the style and praised his ability to "bring influences from Africa and India to the Bentonia sound." Crosby's new album "At the Blue Front" (featuring legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes) offers a hypnotic meld of Bentonia and Hill Country blues. Recorded on tape at Holmes’ iconic juke joint, the album was produced by Crosby, with a selection of original and traditional repertoire.

https://ryanleecrosby.com/press-kit

Hi. I'm Randy "19th Street Red" Cohen. I play The Blues. The Mississippi Delta Blues is My specialty. T-Bone Walker was my First inspiration.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Randy-19th-Street-Red-Cohen/100064230600381/

Ray Cashman is a Mississippi singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose gritty, blues-driven sound has carried him across stages throughout the United States and Europe. For over 20 years, he has toured USA and Europe annually, earning a loyal following with his powerful voice, raw guitar style, and storytelling through song. Performing mostly original material, Cashman’s music blends traditional blues roots with a modern edge, creating songs that are both timeless and deeply personal. His catalog includes several acclaimed albums, and his work has been featured in television and motion pictures, further cementing his reputation as an authentic voice in American roots music.

http://www.raycashman.net

I was born & raised in the South of France and at an early age I knew that I wanted to be in America fullfilling my dreams of being a professional musician. I made the big leap in the spring of 2001 and moved to Hollywood, CA with nothing but a guitar, a change of clothes and $200 in my pocket. Call it luck or fate but 3 weeks into my stay in the City of Angels I ran into Shooter Jennings and promptly joined his band Stargunn. The first two years in California saw my dreams coming true by meeting and playing with some of my childhood heroes (Waylon Jennings, Slash, Tom Morello and James Hetfield to name a few…) Since my early American beginnings, I’ve played guitar for the likes of Stoney LaRue, Billy Joe Shaver and Jack Ingram as band leader! In the past few years, I’ve expended my craft to singing, writing, recording & performing my own music both as Frenchie’s Blues Destroyers and more recently as Guitar Frenchie. To pursue my career as a solo artist, I’ve moved full time to Clarksdale, MS arguably the home of the Blues to continue pushing my boundaries, recognizing and respecting the tradition of the birthplace of America’s music!

https://www.facebook.com/guitarfrenchie/

Laura "Lala" Craig is a female blues artist whose rollicking path to the Delta landed her at the Crossroads of her passions for love and music, fulfilling her dream to become an entertainer and share her harmony with partner, Dino Musso.

https://lalacraig.com

We are an Arkansas based blues and R&B band. We’ve played in a lot of neat places in Arkansas and Oklahoma and we love to put on a good show. We got 2nd place regionally in the Arkansas IBC in 2024 also!

North Mississippi Hill Country blues boogieman Lightnin' Malcolm (usually with his trusty sidekick Prayer Bailey on drums and second vocals) has been a fixture at juke joints like Red's Lounge (and yard parties like ol' RL Boyce used to throw) for years and years. He's also played on stage or in studio with everyone from Big George Brock and RL Boyce to Hubert Sumlin and CeDell Davis.

https://lightninmalcolm.com/home

The youngest guitar playing son of North Mississippi blues legend Junior Kimbrough keeps his father's "cotton patch soul blues" sounds alive at jukes, clubs and festivals throughout the South. Robert and his band are regulars at Juke Joint Festival, having played the annual event for years. Ask him about his latest CD.

https://robertkimbroughsr.com/

One of the most authentic bluesmen alive—Duck Hill, Mississippi's legendary blues recording artist Little Willie Farmer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Willie_Farmer

Guitarist, Jesse Cotton Stone, is a Colorado-Born, American Highway-Raised, Blues Man. He began teaching himself to play blues guitar by ear, starting at the age of 11. And he's been pickin' his guts out all over the U.S. since 1994. Jesse has toured from Colorado to the Bayous of Southern Louisiana several times and has performed multiple shows at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR., the Juke Joint Festival and Deep Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, not to mention Juke joints Road houses and other small venues throughout the region.

https://jessecottonstone.com/home

Anthony “Big A” Sherrod is a young Mississippi bluesman, schooled by a noted blues teacher in the area, “Mr. Johnnie” Billington, who taught not only the music but the value of hard work and knowledge of the culture and history from which Mississippi blues emerged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnsaLmGmWEw

Piano boogieman — originally from The Netherlands. Former owner of the Rock & Blues Museum in Clarksdale. Also ask about his musical "splash art."

https://theodasbach.com/

Ilana Katz Katz is a Blues and Appalachian fiddler, singer, songwriting musical chameleon whose busking passion began on Boston’s subway platforms in 2008. Known internationally for her signature solo performances, she also lends her fiddling prowess to a who’s who of Blues musicians and beyond as a recording artist and special guest. She does her best to bring positive vibes to our strange world by offering (FREE) home-baked cookies at her performances. Ilana is also a novelist, sews one-of-a-kind jackets and berets, makes organic body balm, and is a henna artist. More info: www.ilanakatz.com and @ilanakatzkatz (Instagram) and www.facebook.com/ilanakatzkatz

http://www.ilanakatz.com

Bill Abel learned first hand from Delta blues legends of the likes of Paul “Wine" Jones, Cadillac John Nolden, T Model Ford, and Honey Boy Edwards. Bill plays a hard driving electrified country blues, a gritty unorthodox modern day juke joint sound, unique in its own. He has toured Europe and the United States headlining many festivals.

http://billabel.com

Randy 'Bones Man' Seppala performs with many different musicians and is both a drummer and a bones player.

https://rhythmbones.com/player-profiles/sepalla-randy/

Bentonia blues legend Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes joined by protege Ryan Lee Crosby Trio with Ryan Lee Crosby on 12 string/vocals, Grant Smith on calabash and Jay Scheffler on harmonica.

Instructor: Ryan Lee Crosby. "Intro to Mississippi Blues Guitar: Classics and Deep Cuts" - Explore the sound of Mississippi and the roots of American music with a selection of classic riffs and deep cuts from songs by John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Skip James. We'll examine signature melodies from each artist across multiple tunings. Open to all levels of playing ability. Tablature included for practice.

New and classic blues brought to you from Ventura, California by Delta by the Beach. This lively quartet brings jumping blues, funky-swamp sounds and exhilarating dance grooves to the party. “Our feet are on the beach but our hearts are in Mississippi ”

http://www.deltabythebeach.com

Juke Joint Festival veterans Coyote Motel are a trailblazing force in modern blues, wedding deep traditions with psychedelia on their four albums and in their new, award-winning feature film, The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South. The band of 5 women and 2 men blend the influences of Junior Kimbrough, R.L.Burnside, and Jessie Mae Hemphill with Pink Floyd for a highly original approach to cosmic blues. Bandleader Ted Drozdowski was formerly the vocalist and guitarist of Scissormen, which played Bonnaroo, Cognac Blues Passions, and other prestigious festivals. Coyote Motel has a reputation for great, high-energy concerts, and their film—which was partly shot in Clarksdale—will go into distribution in mid 2025. Meanwhile, you can hear music and see the film’s trailer at CoyoteMotel.com

http://coyotemotel.com

Cameron "Cam" Kimbrough is grandson of North Mississippi blues legend (and juke joint owner) Junior Kimbrough and native of the famed Mississippi Hill Country.

https://www.facebook.com/CamKimbrough/

From Philadelphia, Mississippi, blues musician Deejay Hustleman returns to Juke Joint Festival!

https://www.facebook.com/djhustleman

Angel "Cash" Ocasio, Jr., a prominent figure in Macon's music scene, leads Cash's Juke Joint, a powerhouse band delivering soul-stirring music. Rooted in Blues, Sacred Steel, Soul, Funk, and Rock, their groovy fusion captivates audiences. Hailing from Macon, GA, the band, comprised of seasoned musicians, boasts a rich history playing diverse venues. Cash's Juke Joint has shared stages with icons like Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and The Legendary Wailers, showcasing their raw and uncut sound. Known for getting straight to the nitty-gritty, experiencing the dynamic vibes of Cash's Juke Joint live is a must for music enthusiasts.

http://cashsjukejoint.com

Led by Bill Steber, the Hoodoo Men play MississippiToMemphis'LectrifiedBaconGreaseCornLiquorButtShakingGonnaBoogieTillThePoliceComePorkChopSamich&aSideOfHogMawswithHotSauceJukeJointBlues.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064624182305

Driftwood Johnnie returns! Legendary riverman, watercolorist and roots musicians John "Driftwood Johnnie" Ruskey of Quapaw Canoe Company kicks of the Quapaw stage in style!

https://www.island63.com/

Mississippi Marshall (Hopper) has been labeled "The Delta's Son" for years and his guitar and vocal styling are reminiscent of the Delta as well as the Texas searing blues styling. Mississippi Marshall was born and raised right in the heart of the Mississippi delta and grew up playing both the black and white jukes along the Mississippi River from Memphis to New Orleans.

https://www.facebook.com/MississippiMarshall/

Guitarist/singer grew up in Bluestown, USA— Clarksdale, Mississippi. He's rooted in the local blues scene and taking his personal sound to new levels...

https://www.facebook.com/pcartermusic/

Prayer Bailey is a Horn Lake, Mississippi-based blues singer and instrumentalist... and a return act to Juke Joint Festival.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557997229578

North Mississippi Hill Country blues boogieman Lightnin' Malcolm (usually with his trusty sidekick Prayer Bailey on drums and second vocals) has been a fixture at juke joints like Red's Lounge (and yard parties like ol' RL Boyce used to throw) for years and years. He's also played on stage or in studio with everyone from Big George Brock and RL Boyce to Hubert Sumlin and CeDell Davis.

https://lightninmalcolm.com/home

John Clayton White is a 14-year-old blues guitar prodigy who began performing on stage at age 9 and started his band at age 11. Each band member contributes their unique sound and passion, creating a classic blues rock style that highlights John Clayton’s exceptional lead guitar skills. Many of his original songs are inspired by native Mississippi people and local culture. He won 1st place at age 13 in the Mississippi Delta Blues Society’s regional International Blues Challenge and competed in the International Blues Challenge in January 2025.

https://johnclaytonwhitemusic.com/epk-for-media

Chris Mallory and Sharde Thomas Mallory from Coldwater, MS are the dynamic duo behind the Rising Stars Fife and Drum. In recent years, the band has grown into a worldwide brand and monumental Blues history sensation. The mixture of old school songs with fresh funky beats is bound to keep the young and old on their feet!

https://linktr.ee/fifeanddrum

CRUZ The Dame is a recording artist and songwriter celebrated for her genre-defying music that blends the essence of roots music with a fresh, contemporary sound. Raised in Watertown, Tennessee, her musical odyssey began in the local gospel choir, inspired by legendary figures like Aretha Franklin. From the age of four, CRUZ's dynamic voice and magnetic stage presence caught the attention of audiences and industry icons alike, including James Brown, who recognized her destined path in the spotlight.

http://cruzthedame.com

Alice Hasen has one goal: explore the fiddle into parts unknown. Her five-piece “fiddle-powered groove band” is rooted in the Memphis heritage of funk and rock but frequently strays into pop, blues, and experimental territory. Radio Memphis called Hasen’s debut album, Violintro, "one of the most dynamic sounds out there." Alice Hasen & the Blaze has been featured in several Mid-South festivals, concert series and showcases, combining technical virtuosity with adventurous modern takes full of fun and passion.

https://www.alicehasen.com/

Hard time leads to hard blues. That’s the story behind Mark “Mule Man” Massey. Growing up in the cradle of the Delta blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi, Mark Massey heard plenty of blues. But it took a stretch in Parchman Prison for Mark to discover the blues’ deeper meaning. It was there he met and befriended David Kimbrough, son of legendary Mississippi blues icon, Junior Kimbrough, who taught him the basics of the blues and got him a spot in the Parchman Prison Band. Upon his release, Mark was determined to turn his negative experience into a positive. In the early 1990s – when he wasn’t busy with farm work (hence the name “Mule Man”) – he began his career as a blues guitarist and singer playing every dive and juke joint he could in northern Mississippi. Eventually he honed his skills well enough to play in the International Blues Competition as well as the better blues clubs like B.B. King’s on Beale Street and Morgan Freeman’s “Ground Zero.” Along the way, he received support and encouragement from many regional musicians including longtime friend of the Center for Southern Folklore and blues harmonica player extraordinaire Blind Mississippi Morris. Morris schooled Mark in the rich legacy of the blues masters who came before him. As Mark puts it, because of Morris, “Today when I play their music, I can really feel those guys. I keep playing because I want to keep their songs alive.”

https://markmulemanmassey.com/

As heard on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio, Lew Jetton and 61 South have been entertaining audiences at music festivals and events for years with their unique blend of originals and takes on classic Blues and Americana. Along the way, they’ve appeared on bills with many of our greatest artists, past and present, including Chuck Berry, Samantha Fish, Shemekia Copeland, Little Milton, Koko Taylor, Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, Cedric Burnside, Michael Burks, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Eddie 9V and many more.

http://61south.com

Ghalia Volt is a force of nature who comes to Juke Joint Festival from New Orleans but originally hails from Belgium, where the blues bug bit early. After multiple visits to Mississippi and the American South in search of real-deal blues and roots musics, she moved here to join the scene. This year, she'll be featured as her amazing one-woman-blues-band. Be sure to ask about her latest CD and LP releases after her shows!

https://ghaliavolt.com

Use to make my own guitar as a kid trying to imitate what I heard playing at the juke joint right next door to me in South Georgia,then I got to meet a couple of blues man’s when i was young one of them really well ,I would buy him some of of that imperial wine and we would play .I like the finger picking style most of all but also play other styles too.every where i played the people seems to enjoy it

The most talked about young, traditional Mississippi bluesman today has to be the one and only guitarist/singer/harmonica player Harrell "Young Rell" Davenport!

https://youngrell.com/

Janky is an Austin, TX singer/songwriter-bluesman on a mission to bring “good-time vibes” back to the blues. Janky is right at home busking on a street corner, playing a no-stage bar, or making a big venue feel like a juke joint. Janky focuses on The Hill Country Blues of North Mississippi made famous by R.L. Burnside and Mississippi Fred McDowell. This style of blues is always a crowd pleaser with its old gospel beats and percussive guitar riffs that make the crowd move. Janky was mentored in this Hill Country Blues style by the Texas blues great, Reverend KM Williams. Besides playing bass for the Reverend, Janky produced and recorded five of the Rev’s CDs and has toured all over with him.

https://getjanky.com

One of Mississippi's hidden treasures: a contemporary hill country bluesman, lifelong resident of Pontotoc, who has created his own distinctive version of the harp-blowing, guitar-grooving one-man band. Although he's long past the dues-paying stage, Bean has played with some of the most important bluesmen to come out of Mississippi in the past two decades.

http://www.hillcountryharmonica.com/terry_bean.html

For nearly two decades, Batterton and Edwards have crafted a unique sound that marries the raw authenticity of Ozark mountain music with the soulful depth of Delta blues. Their music emerges from the natural confluence of Arkansas traditions — where banjo meets slide guitar, where mountain hollers blend with field songs, where front porch picking sessions flow into juke joint rhythms. Multi-instrumentalists and seasoned vocalists, they transform traditional country blues through their deep understanding of both high country and lowland sounds. Every performance carries the dust of Delta crossroads and the mist of mountain mornings

http://www.battertonandedwards.com

Lou Shields armed with his 1931 National Resonator and his 1930s archtop guitars captivates his audiences with his unique front porch style. A prolific songwriter, Lou performs original songs inspired by Country Blues, Delta Blues and American Roots. Lou is a must see.

https://www.loushieldsart.com

A Veteran Blues musician for 50 years, Libby Rae has shared her songs and stories around the world. In the 70’s, Libby Rae was fortunate to be in the company of and learn from an older generation of Blues artists… Sam Chatmon, Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis, and others.She constantly promotes Mississippi and its contributions through Music and the Arts.

http://www.libbyrae.com

John Lowe has played Juke Joint Festival for two decades. He also owns a cool music/book shop called Xanadu in Memphis. As for his musical style? Well... let's just say it's "Johnny Lowebow style"! He plays his homemade instruments in ways you simply have to see/hear to believe...

https://www.cigarboxguitar.com/knowledge-base/johnny-lowebow-john-lowe/

Lady Trucker is a multi-faceted artist whose voice, presence, and unique pizzazz has been mesmerizing audiences for decades throughout the American South – from music festivals to the Trail Ride Circuits and beyond. She casts a wide musical net and is equally seasoned singing Gospel from the Baptist Church she grew up in, commanding audience attention with her powerful renditions of North Mississippi Hill Country Blues, and leading bands with her searing versions of Chicago Blues standards. Starting at age 16, she began penning her own lyrics across many styles – including Zydeco – and hasn’t stopped since. Lady Trucker, born Peggy Sue Hemphill, is the 14th of 16 children born to sharecropper and sales associate Henry Lee Hemphill and Lizzie Maewhether Hemphill in Greenwood, MS. Peggy Sue’s upbringing was steeped in music including relative and Blues pioneer Sid Hemphill – first recorded by Alan Lomax in 1942. However, it was another of Peggy Sue’s renowned Blues cousins – artist Jessie Mae Hemphill – who recognized Peggy Sue’s sweet voice at age 3.

https://ladytrucker.site/about-lady-gigs/

Carlos Elliot, a Colombian band, pioneers Hill Country Blues in Latin America. Influenced by Mississippi Delta legends like James T-Model Ford, Big Jack Johnson, and RL Boyce, their unique blend of blues, rock, funk, soul, and ancestral rhythms has captivated audiences worldwide. Their music bridges cultures, generations, and continents, exploring universal themes of love, struggle, and hope.

Baptized in the fire water of Clarksdale, MS., Sean “Bad” Apple began his spiritual journey of learning the blues by seeking out the old blues musicians that were willing to share their years of knowledge. Sean is working hard to keep Hill Country Blues alive and well. People are always in for a good show and never leave disappointed when the Bad Apple is on the stage

http://seanbadapple.com

The youngest son of R.L. Burnside, and member of the Junior Kimbrough Band, a passion for music and a talent for performance, Garry Burnside has been captivating since he was 11 years old. From intimate cafes to grand concert halls, Garry Burnside's versatility and range has left a lasting impression on all who have had the pleasure of hearing the music. I grew up playing in juke joints, and venues all over the world for my father, RL Burnside and Jr. Kimbrough. They taught me all of their blues licks and they taught me to take my music seriously. I moved to Ripley in 2019 and have been recording and writing all through the pandemic. I enjoy working with all kinds of musicians and writing my own brand of blues music.

https://garryburnsidemusic.com/

Duwayne has been immersed in music since birth, as the sound of his father and friends’ playing regularly filled the Burnside household. At 12, he began to play drums, occasionally supporting R.L. and performing in the bands at Junior Kimbrough’s juke joint in the fields outside of Holly Springs. By age 14, he’d switched to guitar and became a member of his father’s band just in time for the recording of Sound Machine Groove. At 15, he moved to Memphis to make his own way in the dynamic and vital blues scene that sprawls from the Bluff City to Mississippi’s hills and Delta. He ricocheted between Memphis and the Holly Springs area in subsequent decades, settling in his hometown once again in the early 2000s. Duwayne has also supplemented his career as a guitarist, singer, and bassist by operating a series of juke joints in Memphis, Chulahoma, and Holly Springs. Just this spring he opened the latest: the Burnside Bar and Grill at 645 North Highway 7 in Holly Springs.

https://www.facebook.com/duwayneburnsidemusic/